Market-leader Metarex Inov stands between seedlings and destruction, the superior snail and slug bait protecting crops from slugs
Market-leader Metarex Inov stands between seedlings and destruction
You can’t argue with sustained success. Metarex Inov, from sustainable agricultural solutions provider UPL NZ Ltd, was developed by French company De Sangosse, the global leaders in slug and snail bait technology. Their baits have been protecting New Zealand horticulture, forage crops, and dairy pastures for donkey’s years.
Ryan Pierce, UPL NZ Ltd Regional Sales Manager Lower North Island, says slugs are a major pest in brassicas, maize, and pasture and have the potential to cost the economy millions of dollars. “There is a lot at stake. No-one can afford to have a spring or autumn sowing fail. Slugs are right up there in their ability to cause serious crop damage - just a little bit behind grass grub in the scale of things. And slugs can have an absolute field day when it comes to crops like brassicas.”
Ryan says prevention is definitely better than cure. “They’re one pest you don’t want to get away on you. Get them before they get your seedlings! Metarex Inov gives you maximum protection of the crop during that critical period of establishment.”
He says monitoring is important (putting down a damp mat or a hessian sack in the evening and checking it next morning). Ryan says even just a couple of slugs can indicate a problem. “But it is safest to assume slugs are always present.”
Slugs - A threat all year round
Grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) thrive in New Zealand’s relatively temperate climate. Particularly damaging to seedlings, they are active year-round though population pressure and damage typically peak in autumn and spring. Ryan says the pests have the capability to wipe out an entire crop if they are present in sufficient numbers.
Slugs can live for up to 13 months and can produce as many as 300 eggs each over their lifetime.
In a cruel twist of fate, modern, less invasive, soil tilling practices have the unintended consequence of favouring slugs. Cultivation was never a silver bullet for slug control, but strip tillage and direct drilling create environments that encourages slugs to flourish. “There’s more ‘trash’” and more places for slugs to hide, Ryan explains. “So, effective control needs to be factored in early in the crop planning process.”
Superior bait slugs can't resist
Metarex Inov is manufactured with the finest durum wheat using a unique wet manufacturing process. An all-weather bait, it is very rainfast, so it continues to perform in the damp conditions that the slugs thrive in. And, importantly for those at the business end of application, like contractors, there’s less dust and it’s much easier on the gear.
Ryan says the product’s spreading properties are also excellent. That saves time, passes and fuel. “The pellets’ uniformity is a key feature which determines ballistic profile and effective spreading distance.”
Colzactive technology is responsible for the exceptional palatability that further separates Metrarex Inov from other slug baits. Created by the De Sangosse research and development team, Colzactive is made up of specially selected oil seed rape extracts. Ryan says the De Sangosse R&D team evaluated 20 different plant species and identified 50 potential molecules for their attractiveness to slugs.
“It took a fair bit of time, but they ultimately selected two molecules from oil seed rape which slugs absolutely love. These are the basis of the Colzactive technology and enhance the Metarex Inov bait attractiveness, its taste and, importantly, the speed at which the bait works compared to other baits.”
Ryan says research shows that slugs even actively prefer feeding on Metarex Inov to feeding on seedings. Good news for farmers and growers. Bad news for slugs.
He says Metaldehyde, the active in Metarex Inov, is potent and fast-acting. “It’ll get the job done.”
